#Japan #Osaka #Open Badges #Kansai University #digital certificate

Introduction to the Digital Certificate Service

Kansai University, located in Suita, Osaka, has recently collaborated with NetLearning Holdings, a major player in e-learning based in Shinjuku, Tokyo, to introduce a state-of-the-art digital certificate service. This initiative specifically aims to recognize graduates of the university's postgraduate program designed for nurturing talent in managing overseas subsidiaries. By utilizing the international technical standard "Open Badges 3.0", the service not only certifies academic achievements but also enhances the digitization (DX) of proof of learning in the context of recurrent education.

Background of the Initiative

Kansai University has committed itself to recurrent education, enabling working adults to refine their careers through further learning. Notably, its postgraduate program focused on global business management has received substantial recognition for developing human resources capable of thriving in international environments. However, to affirm and utilize the educational outcomes of these professionals properly, it became evident that there was a need to move away from traditional paper-based certificates toward a more reliable and versatile mechanism of certification.

In light of these requirements, Kansai University has decided to implement a digital certificate service in compliance with the "Open Badges 3.0" standards. Given NetLearning Holdings' extensive experience in deploying secure digital certification platforms across over 1,000 organizations, they were selected as a strategic partner for this initiative.

Features of the Initiative

Two Courses Offering Digital Certificates

This academic year, Kansai University will offer digital certificates to graduates of two courses in the postgraduate program intended for future leaders in international business: the Basic Course and the Advanced Course. In addition to the traditional paper-based "Completion Certificates", graduates will now receive open badges, enhancing their credentials in the job market. Moving forward, the university plans to broaden the scope of this initiative to include additional courses.

Compliance with International Standards

The “Open Badges 3.0” is an internationally recognized technical standard that ensures the issuance and verification of educational achievements with a high resistance to tampering. This technology allows users to easily present and share their credentials online while facilitating third-party verification. The effective deployment of this system will make it easier for students, educators, and employers both domestically and globally to understand and utilize these learning outcomes efficiently.

Continuous Issuance of Digital Certificates

The issuance of digital certificates will commence for the current academic year’s graduates and will be maintained in subsequent years. This continuous issuance process, alongside the expansion of eligible courses, will allow students to accumulate and easily visualize their learning achievements. By facilitating this system, graduates will be empowered to leverage their educational experiences over the long term.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, both Kansai University and NetLearning Holdings commit to supporting the career development of global talent through innovative usage of educational achievements. They will also explore the possibility of extending this initiative to other courses, as well as enhancing data management related to student achievements. Additionally, Kansai University is considering the implementation of a smart student identification system— a digital student card— to manage and streamline the educational records from enrollment through graduation seamlessly.

About Kansai University

Kansai University is a comprehensive institution guided by the principle of "making knowledge practical". It focuses on education, research, and social contribution across a wide array of fields. The university is dedicated to offering diverse programs aimed at facilitating career advancement for working adults through recurrent education. More information can be found on their official website.

About NetLearning Holdings

NetLearning Holdings strives to create and nurture talent that will shape the future, using the keywords "people, organizations, and education". They undertake strategic operations to ensure the success of their e-learning giant, NetLearning, alongside their group companies, by providing a large-scale, multifunctional platform that fosters innovation and offers high-value services. For further details, please visit their official website.

For inquiries or request for interviews, please reach out to:
Public Relations Officer: Asako Saito
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